Mini UPS

Don't need much. I don't know why but I guess the power company here does not have their shit together. We get these mini glitches sometimes, less than a second. Had one today and all looks alright except it appears to have fucked up the OS on one of my boxes.

If I had five seconds that would be fine. I don't need 20 minutes and I don't need it on the monitor and the audio system, just the box. Just keep the damn thing running. That's all.

Any ideas ? I'll build it, I don't care, I am not putting up with this.

 

[Rick C]

On Wednesday, July 10, 2019 at 9:47:52 PM UTC-4, jurb...@gmail.com wrote:

Don't need much. I don't know why but I guess the power company here does not have their shit together. We get these mini glitches sometimes, less than a second. Had one today and all looks alright except it appears to have fucked up the OS on one of my boxes.

If I had five seconds that would be fine. I don't need 20 minutes and I don't need it on the monitor and the audio system, just the box. Just keep the damn thing running. That's all.

Any ideas ? I'll build it, I don't care, I am not putting up with this.

I got a sale circular by email from someone just the other day containing UPS as low as $40 I believe. What's wrong with that? Why on earth would you want to build your own?

Seems the sale is over and it's up to $45 now.

https://www.newegg.com/apc-be425m-6-nema-5-15-r-outlets-battery-backup-4-surge-outlets-2/p/N82E16842301670

--

Rick C.

- Get 1,000 miles of free Supercharging
- Tesla referral code - https://ts.la/richard11209

 

[Jeff Liebermann]

On Wed, 10 Jul 2019 18:47:49 -0700 (PDT), jurb6006@gmail.com wrote:

Don't need much. I don't know why but I guess the power company here
does not have their shit together. We get these mini glitches sometimes,
less than a second. Had one today and all looks alright except it appears
to have fucked up the OS on one of my boxes.

If I had five seconds that would be fine. I don't need 20 minutes and
I don't need it on the monitor and the audio system, just the box. Just
keep the damn thing running. That's all.

Any ideas ? I'll build it, I don't care, I am not putting up with this.

Been there, done that, in several ways. The easiest was to switch
from a desktop computah to a laptop, which has its own built in UPS.
The power can disappear for as long as the laptop battery will provide
power.

However, laptops are not practical in all situations. So, I decided a
few milliseconds of storage would be sufficient to get rid of most of
the glitches. I installed the biggest capacitors I could find on the
+5v and +12v lines of the (ATX) power supply. Two big caps and a 5
pin Molex power connector to an unused power supply connector. Also,
you'll need to increase the size of the capacitor on the +5VSB line
(used for Wake on LAN), and in the "Power Good" circuit.

However, I wanted something that lasted longer. Looking at the
schematic of a typical (ATX) power supply:
<http://www.pavouk.org/hw/en_atxps.html>
I suspected that if I could keep the high voltage DC across the input
voltage doubler on long enough, the rest of the power supply would not
notice that the input AC had disappeared. So, I increased the filter
caps (C5 and C6 470uf 250V? in the above schematic) to something huge.
I vaguely recall using two 10,000uF at 250V electrolytics similar to
this one:
<https://www.ebay.com/itm/142354932831>
Of course, you'll never get two of these to fit inside the power
supply, so I mounted them inside the computah case and ran wires to
inside the power supply. I was very careful to make sure that the
terminals and the aluminum can were well protected from contact with
the case or humans since they were at AC power line potential.

I don't recall how long the caps would keep the PS alive. As I
vaguely recall, the original 470uf caps were good for about 250 msec
in the unmodified power supply. The larger caps should be
proportionally better at:
10,000 / 470 * 250 msec = 5 seconds
The only testing I had time to do was pull the plug, wait one second,
plug it back in, and see what happened. Todays desktops burn much
less power, so you might be able to get more time.

I'm not sure what a power factor correction circuit will do to this
scheme. This was before they became common. Also, I thought I might
need an inrush current limiter to keep the BFC (big fat cap) from
blowing the power line fuse, but that proved not to be necessary.

Remember, you have but one life to give to your hobby, so please be
careful when working with AC power and stored energy.

--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

 

[bitrex]

On 7/10/19 9:47 PM, jurb6006@gmail.com wrote:

Don't need much. I don't know why but I guess the power company here does not have their shit together. We get these mini glitches sometimes, less than a second. Had one today and all looks alright except it appears to have fucked up the OS on one of my boxes.

If I had five seconds that would be fine. I don't need 20 minutes and I don't need it on the monitor and the audio system, just the box. Just keep the damn thing running. That's all.

Any ideas ? I'll build it, I don't care, I am not putting up with this.

How about this one from the state store for $39.99:

<https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073Q48Z95/ref=sspa_dk_detail_6?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B073Q48Z95&pd_rd_w=j4p6f&pf_rd_p=8a8f3917-7900-4ce8-ad90-adf0d53c0985&pd_rd_wg=pOe3w&pf_rd_r=MX2264QMVBZ4QNRF661P&pd_rd_r=2d1cb95c-a3a1-11e9-b7a2-617387f3127b>

Judging by the reviews it'll run average desktop PC and a couple
monitors for about 10 min after power loss

 

[bitrex]

On 7/11/19 2:04 AM, bitrex wrote:

On 7/10/19 9:47 PM, jurb6006@gmail.com wrote:
Don't need much. I don't know why but I guess the power company here
does not have their shit together. We get these mini glitches
sometimes, less than a second. Had one today and all looks alright
except it appears to have fucked up the OS on one of my boxes.

If I had five seconds that would be fine. I don't need 20 minutes and
I don't need it on the monitor and the audio system, just the box.
Just keep the damn thing running. That's all.

Any ideas ? I'll build it, I don't care, I am not putting up with this.


How about this one from the state store for $39.99:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073Q48Z95/ref=sspa_dk_detail_6?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B073Q48Z95&pd_rd_w=j4p6f&pf_rd_p=8a8f3917-7900-4ce8-ad90-adf0d53c0985&pd_rd_wg=pOe3w&pf_rd_r=MX2264QMVBZ4QNRF661P&pd_rd_r=2d1cb95c-a3a1-11e9-b7a2-617387f3127b


Judging by the reviews it'll run average desktop PC and a couple
monitors for about 10 min after power loss

Probably best to get the 600VA model

 

>However, laptops are not practical in all situations.

Actually I could sit this Win 7 laptop kinda behind the TV, put the wireless keyboard/mouse USB receiver out front, but for now I am just going to fire it up in the diningroom.

I wanted it for the garage if it has a good soundcard, it might have a good enough antenna. My other laptops do but if you turn them certain ways you lose it. Plus the other ones have shit soundcards.

I dunno, I got enough CD/DD players laying around I can take one out there and just burn disks.

Still I don't want to have this shit happen to my PCs. Different locations, I would have to wire this to them new. Not the easiest thing in this house but I can do it.

The printer came back alright, that is good.

 

>I got a sale circular by email from someone just the other day >containing UPS as low as $40 I believe. What's wrong with >that? Why on earth would you want to build your own?

Thanks for the info. There are issues Re: Why on Earth. These glitches, let me try to get this right, ...

It went out for 15-20mS, then about 40-60mS later did the same thing, same duration. My basement PC went down but rebooted fine. Now, it may be possible that I should use a better power supply. I never changed it, it just lasts because I never turn it off. Could having three hard drives pull it down so fast or is it getting weak and I should just get one ?

Oh and I just remembered the printer was in one of its modes, cleaning or whatever. I didn't restart.

Oh, and now that I think of it the fact that the diningroom PC is FUBARed in the OS indicates there is no big fault in THIS PC.

So I guess this is just the breaks ?

 

jurb6006@gmail.com wrote in
news:7a4905c4-4685-42ee-9af6-e4049e8c6143@googlegroups.com:

I got a sale circular by email from someone just the other day
containing
UPS as low as $40 I believe. What's wrong with >that? Why on
earth would you want to build your own?

Thanks for the info. There are issues Re: Why on Earth. These
glitches, let me try to get this right, ...

It went out for 15-20mS, then about 40-60mS later did the same
thing, same duration. My basement PC went down but rebooted fine.
Now, it may be possible that I should use a better power supply. I
never changed it, it just lasts because I never turn it off. Could
having three hard drives pull it down so fast or is it getting
weak and I should just get one ?

Oh and I just remembered the printer was in one of its modes,
cleaning or whatever. I didn't restart.

Oh, and now that I think of it the fact that the diningroom PC is
FUBARed in the OS indicates there is no big fault in THIS PC.

So I guess this is just the breaks ?

God's way of getting back at you for bashing Windows, yet not
really knowing any actual particulars... just jump on the bash
bandwagon.

You got your bits bashed right back at you.

Or maybe MicroSoft looked over your shoulder, saw the crap post(s)
and hacked and whacked your ass from afar.

 

jurb6006@gmail.com wrote in
news:56c35498-4665-4404-9141-ba84b0d46098@googlegroups.com:

>>However, laptops are not practical in all situations.

I guess this dope never heard of a docking station.

Can't tell who though because you do not know how to quote worth a
shit.

Actually I could sit this Win 7 laptop kinda behind the TV, put
the wireless keyboard/mouse USB receiver out front, but for now I
am just going to fire it up in the diningroom.

The wireless transceiver should not have to be anywhere but in the
room. Must be some cheap chinese off brand you buy that you need it
there. I have a dining table against the wall with one chair back
there as well. In that chair seat sits a laptop (out of sight), and
on the table sits a nice 28" 4K hi res display, and wireless keyboard
and mouse. Twelve year old i3 laptop and it still can pump the
display, and the USB connection dongle is in the edge of it, not up
on the table.

I wanted it for the garage if it has a good soundcard, it might
have a good enough antenna. My other laptops do but if you turn
them certain ways you lose it. Plus the other ones have shit
soundcards.

Go to a local thrift store. Likely find an old laptop there for a
few bucks that pumps better than yours.

I dunno, I got enough CD/DD players laying around I can take one
out there and just burn disks.

Micro storage chips are cheap and hold a LOT more data and it stays
for a very long time. "Burned" discs can lose data over time, and
especially if stored in a hot location.

I have an old stereo receiver that I can pump with any laptop and
flood the garage with far better sound than the laptop port pumps
alone.

Still I don't want to have this shit happen to my PCs. Different
locations, I would have to wire this to them new. Not the easiest
thing in this house but I can do it.

The printer came back alright, that is good.

It ran off for a while?

 

[Michael Kellett]

On 11/07/2019 02:47, jurb6006@gmail.com wrote:

Don't need much. I don't know why but I guess the power company here does not have their shit together. We get these mini glitches sometimes, less than a second. Had one today and all looks alright except it appears to have fucked up the OS on one of my boxes.

If I had five seconds that would be fine. I don't need 20 minutes and I don't need it on the monitor and the audio system, just the box. Just keep the damn thing running. That's all.

Any ideas ? I'll build it, I don't care, I am not putting up with this.

We get lots of power drop outs here (very rural SW Scotland), full cuts
when the trees get the power lines and glitches when cows rub themselves
on the power pole stays and the wires wiggle about and hit things.
I have anything important (except the CNC mill !) on one of several 1kVA
UPS boxes each with 2 x 12V 7Ah batteries.
The biggest problem is that the batteries don't last long - typically
about 2 years and it doesn't seem to matter if I use cheapo ones or Yuasa.

You can buy them in the UK for well under ÂŁ100.
I wouldn't trust one with a tiny battery.

MK

---
This email has been checked for viruses by AVG.
https://www.avg.com

 

[Winfield Hill]

Rick C wrote...

I got a sale circular by email from someone just the other
day containing UPS as low as $40 I believe.

Seems the sale is over and it's up to $45 now.

https://www.newegg.com/apc-be425m-6-nema-5-15-r-outlets-battery-backup-4-su=
rge-outlets-2/p/N82E16842301670

And $60 for 600VA, $90 for 850VA.
Runs 8 minutes at 50% power.


--
Thanks,
- Win

 

On Friday, July 12, 2019 at 8:55:14 AM UTC-4, Michael Kellett wrote:

On 11/07/2019 02:47, jurb6006@gmail.com wrote:
Don't need much. I don't know why but I guess the power company here does not have their shit together. We get these mini glitches sometimes, less than a second. Had one today and all looks alright except it appears to have fucked up the OS on one of my boxes.

If I had five seconds that would be fine. I don't need 20 minutes and I don't need it on the monitor and the audio system, just the box. Just keep the damn thing running. That's all.

Any ideas ? I'll build it, I don't care, I am not putting up with this.

We get lots of power drop outs here (very rural SW Scotland), full cuts
when the trees get the power lines and glitches when cows rub themselves
on the power pole stays and the wires wiggle about and hit things.
I have anything important (except the CNC mill !) on one of several 1kVA
UPS boxes each with 2 x 12V 7Ah batteries.
The biggest problem is that the batteries don't last long - typically
about 2 years and it doesn't seem to matter if I use cheapo ones or Yuasa..

You can buy them in the UK for well under ÂŁ100.
I wouldn't trust one with a tiny battery.

MK

---
This email has been checked for viruses by AVG.
https://www.avg.com

I lose power for the same reasons, without the cows. But a
little UPS really saves the day.

I took a chance on a flea market unit in the box because the box
said they equalized and floated the lead-acid battery properly.

Apparently it was true -- the first two 12V 7AH batteries lasted
eight or ten years each. For the current, third battery, I cabled
in a (grossly over-sized) lawn tractor battery, which was in stock
and cost 1/3rd less than replacing the original 7AH unit.

Most of the UPS' fry their batteries by continuously overcharging.
Properly "equalizing" then floating extends lead-acid service life
several-fold.

My UPS is so old I doubt you could find one, but perhaps the info
will help guide your search.

PowerRite Plus, by Deltec, "A Fiskars Co.", Model PRB420.

Cheers,
James Arthur

 

On Friday, 12 July 2019 13:55:14 UTC+1, Michael Kellett wrote:

On 11/07/2019 02:47, jurb6006@gmail.com wrote:
Don't need much. I don't know why but I guess the power company here does not have their shit together. We get these mini glitches sometimes, less than a second. Had one today and all looks alright except it appears to have fucked up the OS on one of my boxes.

If I had five seconds that would be fine. I don't need 20 minutes and I don't need it on the monitor and the audio system, just the box. Just keep the damn thing running. That's all.

Any ideas ? I'll build it, I don't care, I am not putting up with this.

We get lots of power drop outs here (very rural SW Scotland), full cuts
when the trees get the power lines and glitches when cows rub themselves
on the power pole stays and the wires wiggle about and hit things.
I have anything important (except the CNC mill !) on one of several 1kVA
UPS boxes each with 2 x 12V 7Ah batteries.
The biggest problem is that the batteries don't last long - typically
about 2 years and it doesn't seem to matter if I use cheapo ones or Yuasa..

You can buy them in the UK for well under ÂŁ100.
I wouldn't trust one with a tiny battery.

MK

UPS charging circuits can be antisocial to the batteries.


NT